Lost penguin ends up in New Zealand

A young emperor penguin swam thousands of miles in the wrong direction and ended up stranded on a New Zealand beach, it has emerged.

It has been 44 years since a visitor like this was last spotted roaming the shores of the country as emperor penguins are native to the Antarctic.

Kapiti Coast resident Christine Wilton was walking her dog on Peka Peka Beach on the north island’s west coast on Monday evening when she discovered the penguin.

Experts say that the penguin could have begun its journey several months ago while on a hunt for squid and krill - and lost its way.

Speaking of the unusual sighting, Wilton said: “I saw this glistening white thing standing up and I thought I was seeing things. It was out of this world to see it ... like someone just dropped it from the sky.”